A WORD FROM THE LORD
HATCHER HALLOW CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
1717 FERRELL STREET * LAS VEGAS, NV 89106
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HHCM - BIBLE LESSON
RUTH, FROM A GENTILE TO A RELATIVE
Book of Ruth
INTRODUCTION: Ruth is a short book in the Old Testament which tells the story of a woman and a man, Naomi and Eliemech, who were married. They were Jews, and were from a city in Israel called Bethelehem Judah. They had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. There came a Famine in the land of Israel, and they were forced to move. When they moved, they ended up in the Country of Moab, where Eliemech died. Their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite woman and eventually they died, and had no children. Naomi decided to move back to Bethelem Judah and Ruth, because of her love and respect for her mother-in-law moved with her.
Ruth, a Gentile ended up marrying Boaz, a Jew, and from that union was born Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David, from which came our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please read all four chapters of Ruth, and take the quiz at the end of the lesson.
Ruth bears Obed to Boaz. And Obed begat Jesse and Jesse begat David.
HHCM - BIBLE QUIZ
_____ 1. Naomi had two daughters-in-law, what were their names?
A. Orpah, & Ruth, B. Esther & Sahara C. Ruth & Grace
_____2. What was Naomi's husband's name?
A. Samuel, B. Gabriel, C. Elimelech
_____ 3. Naomi and her husband had two sons, what were their names?
A. Mahlon and Chilion, B. Chilion, and Jethro, C. Mahlon and Jeriamiah
_____ 4. How many children did Naomi And Elimelech have?
A. Three, B. Two, C. Five
_____ 5. What was the name of the country where Elimelech and Naomi went to live, because of the famine in Israel?
A. Judah B. Egypt C. Moab
_____6. In the Book of Ruth, what was Ruth to Naomi?
A. Ruth was Naomi’s sister, B. Ruth was Naomi’s daughter-in-law, C. Ruth was Naomi’s mother.
_____ 7. Why did Elimelech and Naomi separate?
A. Their parents force them to, B. Elimelech took another wife, C. Elimelech died.
_____ 8. Where was Elimelech, Naomi and their sons originally from?
A. Bethlehemjudah, B. The city of Jerusalem, C. The Land of Egypt
_____ 9. Why did Mahlon and Chilion and their wivies separate?
A. Mahlon left Ruth, but Chilion stayed with Orpah, B. Mahlon and Chilion both moved back to Bethlehemjudah,
C. Mahlon and Chilion both died in the land of Moab.
_____10. What would you say Ruth was, a Jew or a Gentile?
A. Ruth was a Jew, B. Ruth was a Gentile, C. Ruth was neither Jew nor Gentile.
HHCM - BIBLE LESSON
- BIBLE LESSON
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
1 Timothy 4 :1-3
1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
2 Timothy 3:1- 8.
1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Introduction: In both 1 Timothy 4 and 2 Timothy 3, God speaks through His servant Paul to His servant Timothy, concerning the last days, or the latter times, and the Lord reveals to us what would be signs that we are truly in the last days. Now, I am not trying to predict when the Lord will return to earth for His Church, or when the world will end, but I am simply teaching that we have some very serious signs, that we are in the last days, or last dispensation of God.
To verify what time period we are now living, I would like to talk for a moment about the three(3) major dispensations of God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
1) First, God came to this earth as the Creator, and of course, He made the world. During the creation, God created man, the Bible says, “in His image”, and then He created woman. God created the animals, and put man in charge. Man and woman were tempted by the serpent, that is, Satan, in the Garden, and fell from grace. So we all inherited their sin nature. Hence, the first dispensation of God.
2) The second dispensation of God, was the Son. God came to this earth in the form of man, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Jesus is Immanuel (Emmanuel), God with us.
Isaiah 7:
14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
St. Matthew 1:23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
When God, was to come to earth as a man, He came through a virgin. The Lord spoke this to me one day, I am paraphrasing: “I do not approve of men mistreating women. I sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary, to ask her to bear the Christ Child, Jesus, if Mary had said “no”, it would have been “no”. That’s the respect of God for mankind. That is the respect God desires that men give to women, and that is the respect woman should demand of men, and should give to men in return.
The second dispensation continues with the life of Christ, who became a man that He might die on the cross for our sins. For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. So, we cannot dismiss, avoid, and forget about the cross, for it is our key to eternal life in Christ Jesus.
The third dispensation of God, is God the Holy Ghost, the church, who is currently on earth. The second dispensation of God here on earth ended when Jesus caught the cloud and went back to heaven. See Acts of the Apostles 1: 9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. In fact, read all of Acts Chapter 1, and Chapter 2.
Jesus had promised His disciples that He would “come to them,” and in another place, Jesus said: “I will send you a comforter,” which is the Holy Ghost. The following scriptures will testify to this truth.
St. John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
St. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
St. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
At this time, we are in the final dispensation of God in the earth. The Theologians teach more dispensations, but for this lesson, I am teaching only what I call the three (3) main dispensations of God, the way He taught it to me. So then, with that being said, we now realize that we are in the last dispensation of God, also called the latter days, or the last days, or the church age.
So we ask ourselves, what are the “signs” we can look for, in the world, which are expressed in the Bible, to tell us that we are in the last days. I direct your attention to two scriptures, and I dare say, there are hundreds of scriptures.
1 Timothy 4: 1 - 3, and 2 Timothy 3: 1-8. They are both printed above for your viewing.
The first sign we are going to focus in on is found in 1 Timothy 4:3.
3. Forbidding to marry,…..
The custom of co-habituating, without the benefit of marriage has been around for some years, but it was not something that God taught to His people. It is something we as modern-day sinners dreamed up out of our own hearts, or we got the idea from the Enemy, “doctrines of devils,” as it were.
In the Garden of Eden, God placed man and woman together as husband and wife. He joined the two together, and gave them a commandment to be fruitful and multiply.
When God called Abraham apart, and established him as the nation of Israel through his son, Isaac and then Jacob, men married virgins, clean-living women.
Women, nor young men did not always become soiled from the world, on their own accord, in fact. Let us look at the case of rape. It did not start in our day, and it was never God's will.
2 Samuel 13: 1 - 14 Please read the entire 2 Samuel 13.
Please read the entire 2 Samuel 13.
1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Ammon the son of David loved her. (Same father, different mother).
2. And Ammon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Ammon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
3. But Ammon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
4. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Ammon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
5. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
6. So Ammon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Ammon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Ammon house, and dress him meat.
8. So Tamar went to her brother Ammon house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9. And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Ammon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10. And Ammon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Ammon her brother.
11. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
12. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
13. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
14. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
In the Book of 2 Samuel 13: 1-14, one of David’s sons, Ammon raped his half sister Tamar, and then refused to marry her. The rape of his sister was such an offense to her brother, Absalom, that he eventually killed Ammon, because, Absalom knew that Tamar would never have a chance to marry. She would have been considered unclean to other men, and would remain alone, in shame, in her brother's house all her life. So, an Israelite woman was suppose to get married as a virgin. The same applies to us today.
Ammon really thought he was in love with Tamar, until he got what he wanted. But it was not love at all, it was lust. A lot of people get the two things confused. When we are younger, in child-bearing age, we have this burning lust, that drives many people into sin. But God has given us a way out, through His Holy Spirit, and that is marriage. Not just to rush into marriage, but to seek God for our partners, and even that does not always come out perfectly, but it is God’s perfect plan for our lives.
Note: On the subject of rape. Which is what Tamar went through. Even if you were raped as a young lady, don't hang your head in shame, and succumb to a life of whoredom, or being promiscuousness? I hate the crime of rape, it happens to a lot of young women, and sometimes even to boys, and men, but you should refused to let the act of being raped destroy your life. Thank the Lord for the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Remember. there is deliverance in His blood.
This is just one side of the coin, for your consideration. Many times, young women are not raped, but allow a man to talk them into the first sex encounter, then into moving in with them, and so on. Then the first child comes, and then the second, and the next thing you know, she has changed her last name to his. “I’m Mrs. Bill Jenkins.” But, the truth is, they are not married, and they have none of the rights of a married couple. They are actually living in the sin of fornication before Almighty God.
Many people today believe that living together as husband and wife, when they are actually not married, is not a sin. They feel that because they are grown, they have the right to do as they choose. The key word here is choose. God offers man the option of salvation, and obedience to God, but man may reject it. That is man's choice.
The next sign of the last days we will talk about comes from 2 Timothy 3: 1 - 3
1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
I will focus in on only a two aspects of this scripture, the first in verse 2 "For men shall be lovers of their own selves", and verse 3. "Without natural affection...." This end-time behavior, we call, same sex relationships." We cannot say, that this behavior “started” in recent times, no, it started, long ago, even in the Book of Genesis. But in these days, there is a greater attempt to make people feel comfortable about sin of same sex relationships, sometimes called homosexuality and Lesbesiam. But the Bible teaches that it is something God does not accept, and in fact, God dealt with this sin in a very harsh way in the Book of Genesis, in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
But this is a sin, like any other sin, which is forgivable. But like any sin, we are not to play the game out to end, and risk being lost forever.
Genesis 18: 17 - 23 (Please read the entire chapter)
17. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18. Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19. For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20. And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
These verses in Genesis 18, tells of God’s plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities near Canaan, where Abraham lived. The sin of same sex relationships had come up to God, from this place, and God was now here to settle the matter.
Note: The word Sodom, is where the word Sodomize came from.
Now let’s consider what happened when the Angels of the Lord arrived at Lot’s house, who actually lived in Sodom.
Genesis 19: 1 - 17 (Please read the entire chapter.)
1. And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2. And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7. And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
9. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
10. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
11. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
12. And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
13. For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
14. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
15. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
There are some very important points the reader needs to pay attention to in this chapter, Genesis 19, in case you doubt what I am saying. The sin in Sodom and Gomorrah was the sin of same sex relationships. The two angels that came to Lot’s house were in the form of men, not women. Would you agree with that?
The Angels are now in Lot’s house, but the “men” of the city, had obviously seen them coming in, and eventually went to Lot’s house to see the men who had come in.
4. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Now, this was not one or two men who came to Lot’s house to check these strange men out. There were a lot of men. The Bible says, “….from every quarter,” meaning, from all over town. The verse starts: “But before they lay down….” Lot and his family, and the Angels had eaten and now it was close to bed time, when the men of city showed up. They were very blunt about why they had come to Lot’s house. They wanted to "know the men" who had come into Lot's house. Verse 5: bring them out unto us, “that we may know them.” The phrase to know someone, means to have sex with the person, it does not mean, “I would like to get acquainted with you, or say hello to you.” If the men were asking Lot to introduce them to the Angels/men, Lot would not have responded to them like he did in verses 6 and 7.
6. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7. And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
There is nothing wicked about saying hello to someone. And many think, that there is nothing bad about having sexual relationships with the same sex. But God does not see it that way. God see’s it as sin, not only sin, but as an abomination, which is a sin that makes God sick.
Another thing, that Lot did, which I did not necessarily appreciate was, he offered the men his daughters, instead of the Angels/men. Even if the men had accepted his offer, which they did not, it still would have been sin. Why didn't Lot simply say, "no" to the men, and not even come out and talk to them?
My point is, the sin of same sex relations have been around a very long time, but now a days, we are doing all we can to attempt to make it all right. We are all suppose to not say anything. But if the church refuses to warn people, then we are held accountable before God. We to warn people that 23".... the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
Just because “things are not like they use to be,” and “we are living in a different time,” and all such things, God does not change, and His Word remains the same.
In the Old Testament, in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, they were under the law. When judgement was handed down from God, the verdict was executed with the swiftness. In the New Testament, we are under Grace, so we get the grace period, which is not forever, but it is a little longer than in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, the Lord didn’t pick out people to pick on. The Lord considered that "All unrighteousness is sin." 1 John 5:17 He didn’t bagger people, and try to make them feel bad, or beat them up, and neither should we. We are simply to issue a warning to all mankind, in the name of Jesus. Jesus preached in St. Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Our legal system really do people an injustice when they try to legislate sin. They try and pass laws that makes this sin alright. So, the people who participate in the sin of same sex relationships feel that they have been vindicated, and so now they are home free. But the problem is, God still sees the act as sin. We should respect everyone's right as a human being, but the law should never try and prevent the church from speaking out against any sin. It is sin to lie, but we should not pass a law that says, “If you say that it is a sin to lie, we will put you in jail.” If we don’t watch it in the U.S., we could be in such trouble with God, that He will have to send a couple of Angels down here to visit us, and if that doesn’t work, He may have rain down a little fire and brimstones on us, just like He did on Sodom and Gomorrah.
Summary
The actions we are taking in these latter days, are sign of the times we live in:
A) Our children, not even just the boys, are walking around with their under shorts showing. They call it sagging. I call it pitiful.
B) Some of the young women are going out with their breast hanging out, almost to the nipple. Young women, men may find that look intriguing, but I am sure they wouldn’t want their wife to do that.
C)Many people have opted to live with each other, without the benefit of marriage, as God has commanded. It's ungodily.
D) Men, and maybe even women, are molesting children.
E) There is no audible prayer to the Lord in our schools, just a moment of silence.
F) Children are killing each other in our schools.
Yes, things have changed, and yes, they are signs of the times we live in, but God has not changed. He came to the world and died on the cross for our sins, and if believe in the Lord Jesus, and if you have a yearning in your heart to see the Lord someday in peace, you need to repent of your sins now, and ask God to forgive you and to come into your life. It is so simple to be saved, that you will hate yourself forever if you miss the way. Please, pray this prayer with me, and believe in your heart that God raise Jesus from the dead, and you will receive the gift of eternal life:
“Lord Jesus, I believe in you! I believe that you came to this earth as the Bible said. That you were born of a virgin. That you died on the cross for my sins. That you went in the grave, and that on the third (3rd ) day, you arose, with all power in your hands. Lord, forgive me for all of my sins, and I do hereby turn from those sins, and come into my life, and save me. And Lord please, write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, which is in heaven. In Jesus name.” You mean it?!! Amen!
Join a Bible believing, Holy- Ghost filled, Gospel- preaching church, and attend every chance you get. Pastor Theresa Hatcher. I love you, in Jesus name.
E-mail: info@hatcherhallowchurch.com, Church: Hatcher Hallow Christian Ministries, 1717 Ferrell Street, Las Vegas, NV 89106
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THINKING ON NEW THINGS, IN 2011
THINKING ON NEW THINGS, IN 2011
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 4: 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
St. Matthew 17: 24-27
24. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25. He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
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Introduction:
As we enter this New Year, let us remind ourselves, that by salvation through Jesus Christ, we have taken on the mind of Christ. Therefore, we have ability to begin to “think” like Christ. Am I talking about “positive confession” ? “No!” While I believe that it is good to be positive, I believe that simply “saying something positive,” while possessing no substance of that thing, constitutes “lying.” For example: “I shall have my five bedroom home, by May 30th, 2011.” That alone will not cause the thing desired to come to pass. The person would “normally” have to take steps to bring the thing to pass. Yes, there are such things as Miracles, but this is not what we’re speaking of here.
There is a difference between simply fabricating something, and thinking positive. On the other hand, being “negative” all the time, has the effect of being destructive, especially when that negativity is directed at God. For example: “God, never answers my prayers, so I might as well not pray.” That is also a lye, and will eventually get the person into serious trouble with God. Our goal is to learn to think like God.
Body of Lesson:
We are, in this lesson, talking about learning to “think like God”. That concept is totally different from “thinking you are God!” We are not God, but we have some characteristics like God, therefore, we can be like God in many ways. In Philippians 2: 5-7
5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
How did Jesus think?
A) His demeanor was that of holiness (sin free);
B) Jesus was humble. He never exalted Himself.
C) Jesus was obedient to God the Father, while being God the Son.
D) Jesus obeyed the laws of the land. Please consider St. Matthew 17: 24 - 27 where Jesus, for peace’s sake, paid taxes, and taught His disciples to pay taxes.
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Example: St. Matthew 17:
24. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25. He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
So, in obedience, Jesus paid taxes.
E) Jesus always prayed. And Jesus prayed in such a way that proved that He believed what He prayed would come to pass. “Father you do always hear me.” Yes, Jesus does have one up on us, being Omniscience, meaning infinite knowledge, and omnipotent, the all powerful God. Yet, Jesus, by giving us His Holy Spirit, made it possible for us to have some of these things in common with Him. But our knowledge and power, is limited to what God decides to reveal to us, at the time.
Now we see in the Book of Philippians 4: 8, Paul and Timotheus, write to the saints at Philippi. Instructions are given as to how we as Christians should THINK. What should we think about? This is how the Lord thinks. Jesus being the “Almighty Father” in whom is no darkness, thinks about holy things. There is no occasion in the Lord’s life, where evil thoughts “run across His mind.” Paul and Timotheus writes to us saints, and encourages us in the following:
8. Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, (In our minds, we should meditate on the truth. We should never, even jokingly, devise a lye in our minds.)
whatsoever things are honest, (Honesty and true are in the same family. When we are approached by our fellowman with a question, our response should be honest. That’s not always easy, but it is what God calls for.)
whatsoever things are just, (Can we as saints be “just” or “fair”, like God. When we have a decision in our hands, do we choose to do the right thing?)
whatsoever things are pure, (Pure is in the family with cleanliness, and holiness. Thoughts which are “free of sin”. There was a time when a man did something to me which displeased me very much. And I in turn, was meditating on how I would “repay” him for his evil deed toward me, when the Lord reburked me, and told me to “stop thinking evil.” Even if the man was wrong, I couldn't repay, evil for evil.
Page 4
Philippians 4: 8 con’t
whatsoever things are lovely, (Those thoughts which are pleasant, and kind toward our fellow man. “She is really a wonderful person.” “He is a pleasure to be around.” Those kinds of thoughts.
whatsoever things are of good report; (There is a saying about gossip; “If a person will bring a bone, he will carry a bone.” A bone being gossip. It is rare to find Good Reports, but it is what the Lord wants carried by His people.
if there be any virtue, (The word virgin, should be a root word of Virtue, which is cleanliness, pure, without contamination. We are to keep God’s Word pure, and not try and used God’s Word to our own advantage.)
and if there be any praise, (Praise is that adoration we give to God. Do you speak kind words about God, to God, and to others. Do you love to praise Him, or do you have a tenancy to speak evil things against God. “Oh no one does that, you say.” Be careful, to always give praise and worship to the name of the Lord. “Jesus is a wonderful savior. He is the Everlasting Father, He is the Prince of Peace.”
think on these things.
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Summary :
Again in Philippians 2: 8. 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
We find Jesus humbling Himself before mortal men. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus allowing Himself to be taken away by men, who could not take Him, unless He actually helped them.
See St. John 18: 4. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5. They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Jesus then assisted these men to take Him. Otherwise, they would not have been able to take Him.
It took humility, and a willingness to die for the sins of the world, to cause Jesus to allow men, whom He created, and maintained, to take Him by the hand, and take Him to Court, lye on Him, try Him, prosecute Him, and finally convict Him of some crime. They then lead Him to Calvary’s Mountain and crucified Him.
When Jesus was on the cross, He was still thinking about us, because Jesus said: “Father forgive them, for they know not what the do."
Invitation:
Our invitation is to those who do not yet know Jesus as Lord and Savior, to take the step to openly confessing that:
a) Jesus came to the earth,
b) was born of a Virgin,
c) grew up and became a man,
e) died on the cross for your sins and mind.
f) He went into the grave,
g) and rose again on the third day, with all power in His hands.
h) Ask Jesus to forgive you for all your sins, which means you agree to turn from your sins, and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
i) Ask Him to come into your heart and save you,
g) and to write your name in the Book of Life, forever more. Amen.
Page 6
Take our Bible Quiz for fun: Thinking on New Things, in 2011
You may e-mail your answers to: info@hatcherhallowchurch.com
Please answer by placing one of the letters next on the line, or T for True, or F for False.
____ 1. According to our lesson, which of the following statements best depicts, thinking like God in a particular situation:
A. Since I am a “King’s kid,” I should never get sick, B. My desire is to always obey God, C. There is no need to pray, because God knows my needs.
____ 2. Which of the following examples show Jesus being humble?
A. Jesus agreed to pay taxes; B. Jesus took medicine, C. Jesus gave tithes
____ 3. Who do you believe can have the “mind” of Christ?
A. Only His original Disciples, B. The women who help Jesus, C. All who believe in Jesus.
____ 4. Who wrote the letters to the Philippians?
A. John the Baptist, B. Barnabas, C. Paul and Timotheus
____ 5. Which of the following are things which were mentioned in Philippians 4: 8, that we should think on?
A. whatsoever things are just, B. whatsoever things are careful C. Whatsoever things are needed.
____ 6. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, men came to take Him. A conversation transpired in St. John 18:4-6 Jesus said, “Whom seek ye?” The men answered, “Jesus of Nazareth”, and Jesus answered again “I am He.” What happened to the men when Jesus said, “I am He.”
A. The men ran away, B. The men fought Jesus C. The men fell backward.
____ 7. Which of the following are some of Jesus' thoughts:
A. Jesus thought about holy things, B. Jesus thought about true things, C. Both A & B are correct.
____ 8. When do we as Christians, take on the mind of Christ?
A. When we learn to read, B. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. C. When we learn to give.
____ 9. T or F As Christians, Paul and Timotheus teaches us in Philippians 4: 8, that we have some control over what we think about.
____ 10. Some of the other things we learned to think about in Philippians 4:8 include which of the following:
A. Whatsoever things are true, B. Whatsoever things are of Good Report, C. Whatsoever things are honest, D. A, B. and C are correct.
End January 2011--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message for December 2010:
More than a Babe in a Manger
The Son of David
1 King 13: 1-34, Isaiah 9: 6-7, St. Luke 2:11, St. Matthew 1:18-25, St. John 1:29
By Pastor Hatcher, December 2010
INTRODUCTION:
As the time approaches that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we at Hatcher Hallow Christian Ministries would like to reflect on the earlier prophecies of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ found in the Old Testament. There are many occasions in the Old Testament, where the prophets foretold of the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. If people would allow themselves to honestly look at these prophecies, these prophecies of Jesus Christ can be easily recognized by those who know Jewish History. In the Old Testament, the Jews were looking for the Savior, because many times, they knew they needed deliverance from one thing or another. And time after time, the revelation of the coming Savior was revealed to and through the Jews. In this lesson, we will speak of a few those occasions.
PROPHECY NO. ONE:
Our first Scripture is found in 1 King 13:1-34. Even though, the later part of this Scripture is anything but pleasant, it teaches us a vast number of lessons. The very first lesson was this: Even though the Lord uses a man of God, it doesn’t mean that the man, can not error, so we as God’s servants must be very careful, and guard ourselves against the snares of the Enemy.
1 King 13: 1-2
1. And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
2. And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
The first thing the man of God, from Judah did when he arrived in Bethel was, He spoke the Word of God. Anyone knowledgeable of the predictions of the coming of the Lord, would recognize that the man of God was speaking of Jesus, the coming Messiah.
Josiah was translated, Jesus.
PROPHECY NO. TWO:
Another Scripture confirms the wording used in 1 King 13: 1-2, look at Isaiah 9: 6-7
6. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
7. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
The government of the Lord is everlasting. There shall be no end to His government. The disciples spoke to Jesus about setting up the Kingdom of Israel, but Jesus responded that His Kingdom was not of this world. Jesus established a heavenly Kingdom, whereas men, through God’s Spirit, would become part of His Kingdom. We are in the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of God is within us.
Jesus did not literally sit upon the Throne of David, but He was born from the bloodline of David, who was born from the bloodline of Abraham, which caused the throne of David to continue. Though Jesus was not related to Joseph by blood, both Mary, and Joseph were from the bloodline of David. You may find that through searching the generation of Jesus Christ found in St. Matthew: 1: 1-25.
PROPHECY COMES TO PASS:
How can one tell if a prophecy came from God. The answer is, “Because it comes to pass!” It boggles my mind how people can read over this Scripture, in Isaiah 9:6, and miss the fact that this Scripture is speaking of the coming of Jesus Christ. And again, how do they miss the fact that it is the exact thing that happened in St. Matthews, involved the same people, Israel, the off spring of Abraham. One may say, “Oh we don’t read the New Testament, therefore, we are not held accountable for its contents.” But if the celebration of Christmas, doesn’t do anything else, it does make the entire world aware that we Christians, are celebrating the birth of Jesus. No one can miss that.
A VIRGIN GIVES BIRTH:
St. Matthew 1: 18-25
18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
No one can miss that Jesus’ earthly mother’s name was Mary. The fact that Mary was reported to have given birth, while still a Virgin, is widely published, to the point that some want to fall down and worship her. That is not something Christianity teaches, but the fact that a Virgin gave birth, is widely taught, and believed by Christians.
PROPHECY COMES TO PASS AGAIN:
Jesus was Born where the Old Testament proclaims He would be born.
St. Luke 2: 11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
When the New Testament proclaimed that Jesus was Born in Bethlehem of Judah, no one missed it. History also proves that Jesus lived in Israel. Whether they all believe in Jesus or not, for many reasons, the Jews today continue to capitalize on the fact that Jesus was born in Israel, because He was. During my only visit to Israel, I went through all the tourist traps, but the one that bear some authenticity, was the tomb where the Jews claim Jesus was buried; from where He rose from the dead. There was a small room cut into the mountain, which bore one stepped down into this room. There was an area carved out of the rock, where one person could easily lie down there. I sensed a Holy Presence there.
SUMMARY: St. John 1: 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
During the Christmas season, we continue to place Jesus back in the Manger, with Joseph and Mary watching over Him. But we must never forget that Jesus was born for the express purpose of coming to this earth to die for our sins, to rise again and to ascend up to heaven to intercede for us, His children. Jesus was more than a Babe in a Manger. He was and is the Son of David, the Son of Man, the Son of God. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus is the Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the world. He is the Everlasting Father, He is the Prince of Peace, He is the Almighty God. Shalom.
Take our Bible Quiz for fun: More than a Babe in a Manger
You may e-mail your answers to: info@hatcherhallowchurch.com
Please answer by placing one of the letters next on the line, or T for True, or F for False.
____1. What was the man of God’s name, who prophesied in 1 King 13:1 -2?
A. His name was Jeroboam, B. His name was Josiah, C. The Bible does not give us his name.
____ 2. How can one know if a prophecy was true, and it came from God?
A. Because the prophecy made you feel good, B. Because the prophecy came to pass,
C. Because the prophet who gave the prophecy was well known.
____ 3. Which of the following titles were prophesied of Jesus in the Old Testament?
A. Everlasting name, B. Prince of Peace, C. Great One
____ 4. How long was the government of Jesus to last?
A. 3000 years, B. 10,000 years, C. Forever
____ 5. T or F: Joseph, the husband of Mary, was the father of Jesus Christ.
____ 6. Complete this Scripture: St. Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a (1)______, and they shall call his name (2)__________, which being interpreted is, (3)_____ _____ ______.”
A. (1) child, (2)God, (3)God with us, B. (1)son, (2)Emmanuel, (3)God with us, C. (1) son, (2)Jesus, (3)Peace with us.
____7. Jesus is said to have been born of the Virgin, Mary. How would you best explain this occurrence?
A. Mary conceived the Baby Jesus, by the Holy Ghost, B. Mary conceived by Joseph, C. Mary never conceived.
____ 8. Joseph, the husband of Mary, was called “the son of David,” just as Jesus was, why was Joseph called “the son of David?”
A. Because he was like Jesus, B. Because he was Mary’s husband, C. Because he was born of the bloodline of David.
____ 9. Was it clear in the Scripture, that Christ would be “male”, vs. “female”?
A. No, I believe Jesus was a female, B. Yes, in Isaiah 9:6, it mentions “a son is given” C. Yes, St. Matthew 1:21 states, speaking of Mary, that “she shall bring forth a son”.
D. Both B & C are correct.
____ 10. Which of the answers would you say best describes, why Jesus came to this earth?
A. To give us a nice life, B. To heal sicknesses, C. To die for our sins.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Prayer in our Schools
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
>
>Mary had a little lamb.
>His fleece was white as snow,
>And everywhere that Mary went,
>The Lamb was sure to go.
>He followed her to school one day,
>Back then, there was no rule.
>He made the children laugh and play,
>To have the Lamb at school.
>And then the rules all changed by law.
>Illegal it became;
>To bring the Lamb of God to school,
>Or even speak His name.
>Every day got worse and worse,
>And days turned into years.
>Instead of hearing children laugh,
>We heard gunshots and tears.
>What must we do to stop the crime
>That's in our schools today?
>Let's let the Lamb come back to school
>And teach our kids to pray. Message passed on to us via e-mail.
Message for December 2010:
Please read the message below, and test your Bible knowledge by taking the quiz which follows the message.
SUBJECT: THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
Man who found hidden treasure.
SCRIPTURE: St. Matthew 13: 44 - 46 KJV
44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Message: Like the treasure hid in the field, in St. Matthew 13:44, One of the characteristics of the Gospel is that,while it lays in plain view, for all the world to see, it is at the same time hidden from the natural eye. That is why
some people can go to church, year after year, and fail to be saved. That is why one man can pick up the Bible and
read it, and come away perplexed, and even angry, while another can go to the same Bible, pick it up and read it, and find in it Joy, and peace, which blossoms into eternal life.
SEEK GOD WITH A WILLING HEART, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM: In our main Scripture today, we see a man,
which goes in a field, a field where other people had walked in for months, even years, some had probably dug in
the field in years past, and found nothing. A field where other’s went to work complaining that they were sick and
tired of going to this old field and doing the same old job, for little or no pay. Yet this man went to the same field,
and took his shovel and started to dig into the earth, and came up with a treasure so valuable, that he went home
and gathered up everything he had of any value and sold it. I imagine he went back to his home, and went through
all his things: He sold his cattle, his horses, his gold, his silver, and even other land that he already had, and
took the Deeds to the market place and sold them. He then went back and bought the land where he had found
the hidden treasure. The treasure that this man found was the Word of God,Salvation, a Relationship with God,
Eternal Life! Amen! He was willing to give up everything he owned to lay hold of this new found place with the
Lord. What would you be willing to give up to gain Eternal Life?
THE GOSPEL REQUIRES WORK: The Gospel is available to people who are willing to work for it, vs. lazy people,
who are not willing to work. No, we are not saved by our works, but at the same time, those who will gain a closer
walk with God, will put forth some effort. Though we do not have to physically work to receive Eternal Life, we
need to earnestly seek after God. The man in this Scripture was digging when he found the Treasure. If we want a
deeper revelation in God’s Word, we will have to dig to get it. If we want a greater annointing from God, we will
have to spend some time with God.
Consider this thought: IF ONE PAYS A HIGHER PRICE FOR SOMETHING, HE WILL BE MORE PARTICULAR
WITH THAT THING. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE WHO SEEK THE BAPTISM IN THE
HOLY GHOST, DELIGENTLY, FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING TO RECEIVE THE
HOLY GHOST. THOSE WHO DID NOT LABOR, OR TARRY FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD, DIDN'T COUNT HIM
AS PRECIOUS.
The Gospel is Valuable, Expensive: Not in terms of “money”, but in terms of what one has to give up in order to
get that true relationship with God. In the natural, when one pays a higher price for something, he will treasure it.
One feels different about a suit you caught at the Flee Market for $12.00, than the one he paid $1,500.00 for. And
that is the way it is in our relationship with God. The less one gives up to gain God, the less one treasures that
relationship.
We must understand, that we must give up something to get God. What must you give up? You have to give up
those things, which the world think is important. Such things as:
-- romantic relationships outside of marriage; lying
-- your time unforgiveness, anger, hate
-- sometimes sleep (to spend time in prayer) illegal drugs
-- sometimes food (to spend time in prayer) alcohol
-- illicit sex; lying
-- stealing
In conclusion: Some of the characteristics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are these: Valuable, in fact, the Gospel is priceless. If one is to lay hold on the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, he must be willing to give up everything in this world to gain it. We realize that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price, and that was to lay down His life, that we might have eternal life. We as His servants, must be willing to do the same.
After you complete the Quiz, you may e-mail it to hatcherhallowchurch@cox.net or print it, complete and mail to:
Hatcher Hallow C.M.,
1717 Ferrell Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89106-1303
BIBLE QUIZ
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
Chose the correct answer
Please mark A, B, C. or D, or T=True, F=False.
You may E-mail your answers only, along with your: Name, Address, and Phone No. to
hatcherhallowchurch@cox.net, Ex. 1. B, 2. A and so on
Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________
Address: __________________________________ City _____________, St _______ Zip ______
Phone ( ) ________________________________
______ 1. In St. Matthew 13:44, what was it that the a man found in the field?
A. Flowers, B. Wheat C. Treasure
______ 2. When the man found the treasure in the field, how much did he sell to buy the field?
A. $10,000.00 B. All that he had, C. His gold
______ 3. T or F One of the characteristics of the Gospel is that it sometimes hidden.
______ 4. T or F Another of the characteristics of the Gospel is that is easy to understand.
______ 5. Since the man in St. Matthew 13:44 sold all that he had to buy this field, we would conclude that the Gospel is:
A. For sale, B. Not worth much C. Valuable or expensive
______ 6. If one “digs” for the Gospel, where would you suggest he digs?
A. In the Book of Hezekiah B. In the Word of God, C. In the Sunday Paper, C.
______ 7. Can you give us a Scripture that proves the Word of God is eternal.
A. Jesus Wept, St. John 11:35
B. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. St. Matt.5:18
C. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. St. Matthew 11:28
______ 8. Name two things that one should give up, if He wants to truly live for Jesus Christ.
A. illicit sex, and unforgiveness, B. Drugs and alcohol, C. Lying & Stealing D. A, B, & C the correct answer.
______ 9. T or F: If you pay more for something, you would likely be for particular about that thing.
______ 10. Would you agree that the Gospel and Jesus Christ are ONE?
A. No, the Word of God is separate from Jesus,
B. The Word died when Jesus died,
C. Yes, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
To view photos from previous years, click here. Enjoy!
